Live on or live in Main Street?

[celtdric]

Yesterday a teacher and I had a different opinion about an expression or sentence in English.

She think this sentence is right:
"I live in Main Street, in a nice house."

And I think this sentence is right:
"I live on Main Street, in a nice house."

In my opinion when you say, 'I live in', means you live inside a place or a city. And when you say, 'I live on,' means on the surface (on the ground or land) of ie. of a street.

So, my question is, who is right? The teacher or I?

Thank you for your help!

Cedric

 

[engee30]

You are both right. Your teacher, English-thinking, says live in (street) is correct; you, American-thinking, say live on (street) is correct. That's the only difference.

 

[Luizao]

I'd say both are perfectly acceptable and you're ok using either.

I myself prefer to say on Main street.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I'm not sure I follow your reasoning, but I certainly agree with your conclusion. People live on a street, not in a street. If we'd lived in a street, we'd get run over. And that's not living!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I'd say both are perfectly acceptable and you're ok using either.

Another example of US and UK not getting our stories straight!

 

[Searching for language]

And, just to confuse things a bit more, here in Canada you say
"I live on Main Street."

But, if you are living "on the street or in the streets" it means that you are homeless.